Riley's POV
Why would he join later? What happened to - he wouldn't go because I didn't invite him? I still didn't ask him.
I dressed up for the party. I have no choice but to make sure it is okay later. I mean, it's my party. I don't want anyone to be unsatisfied with the night.
There were already seven guys when I arrived. I made sure that I'd look hotter than his ex tonight.
We already started the drinking session while waiting for the others.
Since Rye said he was coming, I messaged Aki to tell Gel too, but he said Gel couldn't come. Like dude, ask him first. With how fast he replied to me. Indeed he didn't relay my message to Gel.
"Drink till we drop." Shilo is here now. He touched my hair. "Looking so good tonight." He whispered.
We were laughing when Rye made the crowd silent with his appearance. He is walking towards the VIP floor.
Act normal, Riley. You can't show him that you were deeply hurt.
"Hello, friend! Nice to see you here."
Sounded fake again. Just call him by his name, Ri. I don't want too, though. His name sounds mine, and I wouldn't say I like it. "Sit with your friend. Enjoy here." I asked him to be seated beside Shilo.
Finally, Maru is here too. He brought a handsome foreigner guy. His boyfriend? He got a hot one.
"Hi, Ri. So listen, I am sorry I haven't informed you. Well, this is Travis. He is my cousin." Oh, I thought it was Maru's boyfriend.
I whispered to Abi, one of our close friends too, that Travis is hot. We were both giggling when Rye asked me to sit down properly. This is a pub, for god's sake. No one would care even if I lay down on the table.
"Travis here. Sorry for crashing to your night. I just heard it is Riley's pub, so I asked Maru to bring me."
Fuck me! How did he know me?
"Oh, no worries, Travis. Enjoy the night." I welcomed him.
"Go bijj! Get him!" Abi is whispering behind me, and I know Shilo and Rye can hear it because they are seated so close to us.
"I will just enjoy it if the famous Riley would dance with me. I am not going to lie. That is my purpose here." He chuckled.
Okay! Added in my admirer list.
"Sure! Sit here and drink for now."
I need to be sure that everyone wouldn't be out of place.
"Friend, I mean, Rye. Can you scoot over?" I asked him.
"Ri, tell me if he is big." Abi is trying to whisper again, still Rye and Shilo can hear it.
"Big what?" I chuckled.
"Slut! You know what I mean." Abi flirty winked at me.
"Fuck me!" I laughed.
"Oh! Wow! Hot." Travis heard it.
"That's just his expression." We all looked at Rye. He was so serious. "He doesn't mean it. It's just his expression." He is staring at Travis.
"Nice save, Rye. Yeah, you would always hear it from me if you are my friend."
"I don't mind hearing it all the time," Travis said. Such a flirt.
The table for us is for a huge group, so on the left side, it was Abi, Shilo, Rye, Travis, me and Maru. I sat beside Rye earlier, but I let the new guy sit in between.
I don't know why the hell Rye is here. I hate when someone looks bored when I the one who organized the party.
"You want more drinks, Rye?"
"No." Okay then.
We just continued drinking. We will join the dance floor later when we already feel the effect of the drinks.
"Shall we, gorgeous?" Travis asked.
"Who am I to decline?" I accepted his hand.
It's obvious that Travis is used to be going to this kind of place.
"Are you enjoying here?"
"This place is lit! Fuck me." He teased by copying my expression.
I keep staring at Rye, who is trying to stab me with his glares.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" Travis asked.
"How did you know I want a boyfriend? What if I like girls instead?"
No freaking way!
"I just felt it. You will be prettier with girls. I will love it if you like boys instead." He whispered. Shit! That tickles. He is hot, but no one can be hotter than my Rye.
I felt a hand on my arm. It was Rye.
"I want to drink."
"Then order anything there. Why would you tell me?"
"I don't drink, right? You order for me." What the hell?
"Go and sit first, Travis. I'll just help my FRIEND here." I told him.
We asked the bartender to give him manhattan.
"Want to dance too?" I asked.
"What are you doing, Ri?"
"Here. Talking with you."
"I am serious. You just knew that guy a few minutes ago. I am just concerned."
"What did I do? We were just dancing as a friend." I chuckled.
"Is that how you dance with a friend?"
He looked so pressed. He is affected. I am sure of it. This is not intentional, but it's fucking working.
"Why? We danced like that as a friend too." I countered.
"Riley!"
"Yes, frienny?"
"Here you go, sir." The bartender interrupted.
"Charge it to me," I told him.
I just continued socializing with my friends while Shilo had no choice but to talk to Rye. He looked so sleepy already. It's almost two AM, and he is still here. He doesn't even look like he is enjoying it.
I noticed that he has two bodyguards on a few tables away dressed up to blend in. They are not drinking, though. But I know they are here for Rye.
Travis is dancing there with Maru and a stranger.
Abi approached me. "I think he is hitting on you."
"I don't know. He didn't ask anything."
"What if he says he like you?" Abi is tipsy already.
"I don't know. Maybe I need more time, but I won't reject easily. I know how it feels now." I don't want to hurt anyone.
Rye followed me in the restroom. "I am going home now."
"Take care. You have a driver, right?"
"Let's go. We will send you home. It's already two in the morning."
He offered.
"Rye, it's Saturday. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine here. I won't be drunk. I can handle myself."
"Ri."
"Please, Rye. Just go home. I am okay here. This is my place."
"Fine." I saw him walk straight to the exit without saying goodbye to my friends.
I returned to the table.
Why is he like this? If he likes me, then just say it. What is stopping him!? If he is not ready, tell me too.
He can ask me to wait. I'll be willing to do that. He said straight we could be friends but we can't be more than that.
I hope he realizes it soon.
Travis sat beside me. "Come on, let's dance again."
"Maybe later." I am not in the mood now. I just want to go home.
We still chatted with each other the whole week. We do not see each other often because we study in a different building. It's not the same anymore. I am trying to be civil. He wants to be friends with me, but heaven knows how badly I want to be more than that.
I already told Aki last Monday what happened to Elaine. He was the one who asked me first since someone reported to him. Of course, I would blame Elaine. I can understand why Nigel was so mad.
I don't know what did Aki do, but I am not seeing her walking around the campus like a queen anymore. I know Aki won't hurt her. She is still Rye's ex-girlfriend, after all.
It was already Saturday, and I was so busy dressing up. Today is the triplets' birthday, and I can't choose what to wear. I am not trying to impress Rye. I just know for sure that the guests there will be all from the highest class of society.
I reached the mansion a few minutes before the party started. I grabbed a cocktail and talked with some other guests. I know a few people here because of the business world.
I spotted his mom. I know everyone from their family.
That was Reese Jongcheveevat, the friendly one. Holding his hand is Rye's dad, Aidan Jongcheveevat. Let's not talk about wealth. I know he still holds the record of being the richest man in the country. Second is his grandfather Cade Suppasit.
My eyes roam around the whole place: Miles Suppasit, the one who collects yachts for fun.
Sage Suppasit. There you go. This is old news, but he was once my crush-such a hottie.
But I am still trying to find the guy I want to meet the most.
There you go. I spotted him sitting while sipping his wine elegantly.
I idolized him a lot. This is the first time I am going to meet him in person.
Our eyes met.
Fuck me!
Now I can see him walking towards me. I've never been this nervous my entire life.
"Riley Cameron."
Am I dreaming?
He knows me.
"Ira Jongcheveevat." He offered a hand. I wiped my hand on the side of my pants.
"Nice to meet you, sir."
"I heard a lot about you." He smiled. Was it a smile?
"Really? I hope it's all good."
"Don't worry. My grandsons seem to like you a lot." He is talking to me nicely, but my fucking knees are about to collapse.
"Thank you, sir."
"I hope you enjoy the party."
Why does it sound like it was a threat? Fuck! I want to ask who his designer is. Look at that! Damn! Sophisticated is not enough to describe him.
I saw Sky first. "Happy birthday, young lady." She is a goddess.
"Thank you, Riley. Just wait for Cloud and Rain. They are still not satisfied with their look." She laughed.
I handed her my gift. It was a beautiful diamond necklace
I saw Rye, Aki, and Gel. It was Gel who invited me to their table.
Rye offered a seat for me.
"Here they are," Aki said.
They both look like a young man. They are so cute.
"Hi, birthday boys. Happy birthday." I greeted them.
I saw them giggle.
"Thank you, Riley." They said in unison.
"Can you please come with us?" Rain asked.
"Woahhh...They are starting already," Aki uttered while laughing.
"Where?" I asked.
"That's not your seat. You sit with us in front." Cloud told me.